From Cooper Bridge to Brighouse on the Calder & Hebble

 The Calder & Hebble Navigation isn't just a stretch of water; it's a living timeline, carving its way through the heart of West Yorkshire's industrial landscape. My recent walk, capturing the route from Cooper Bridge towards Brighouse, offered a profound look at how centuries of industry and modern engineering coexist with the quiet, reflective beauty of a working waterway.

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Cooper Bridge: Where Industry Meets the River

The walk begins near Cooper Bridge, a historically important junction on the old road network. Here, the immediate scenery is dominated by the ghosts of industry and the hard lines of modern infrastructure.

• The Mill and the Chimney: One of the most striking initial views is the reflection of the large Victorian mill building and its towering chimney in the water . This classic image encapsulates the Industrial Revolution's legacy in the Calder Valley—textiles, coal, and transport, all powered by the river and the canal. The water, calm and dark, acts as a perfect mirror, doubling the building's impressive scale.

• The Sunlit Cut: Moving away from the heavier industrial backdrop, the canal narrows and the banks become greener, though remnants of manufacturing are still visible. The sunlight catches the water, giving a brief glimpse of the navigation’s serene side.

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The Overheads: Bridging Eras of Transport

As you progress through Kirklees, the landscape dramatically changes, showcasing the monumental clash between 18th-century canal engineering and 20th-century road building.

Kirklees Railway Bridge: A Relic of Rail

The Kirklees Railway Bridge is a magnificent, brooding structure. Its heavy wrought-iron lattice girders, now deeply rusted and framed by winter-bare branches, speak of the great age of Victorian railway expansion. The massive, weathered stone piers of the older arches below suggest the scale of the challenge faced when spanning both the river and the navigation. This bridge is a powerful reminder that once, rail was the dominant competitor to the canal for transporting goods across the Pennines.

The M62 Viaduct: The Modern Giant

Further on, the landscape is utterly dwarfed by the immense presence of Bridge 20, carrying the M62 Motorway across the valley.

• Engineering Scale: The sheer size of the concrete columns, standing like a legion of modern giants, is breath taking. Underneath the viaduct, the view is starkly different—an echoing, shadowed space that highlights the difference between human-scale canal transport and high-speed vehicular transit. The contrast is palpable: the tranquillity of the water below the thrum of thousands of cars above.

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The Workings of the Waterway: Lock 14

One of the most essential features of any navigation is its locks, and your photo of Lock 14, Kirklees Low Lock, captures the functional beauty of canal architecture. Framed by the surrounding trees and green fields, the lock is a hub of activity (or potential activity). The white-painted gates and machinery stand out against the greenery, ready to lift or lower boats. It's here that you truly appreciate the system engineered by figures like John Smeaton to make the River Calder navigable for long-distance trade.

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Approaching Brighouse

The final leg of the journey takes us into the immediate vicinity of Brighouse, where the canal again meets the modern industrial fringe.

• Blakeborough Bridge: Bridge 19, the Blakeborough Bridge, is a distinctive concrete arch structure, likely replacing an older crossing. Its smooth, utilitarian lines stand in sharp contrast to the rusty rail bridge encountered earlier.

• A Modern Mix: The final views are a blend of the wide, straight canal cut, lined by contemporary industrial units and tall power line pylons. The calm water reflecting the vast sky and the flanking hedgerows is sandwiched between the necessities of twenty-first-century life—warehouses and electricity transmission.

This stretch of the Calder & Hebble is a superb example of a working canal that has adapted and endured. It has moved from being the lifeblood of the Industrial Revolution to a recreational and ecological corridor, all while serving as a silent museum of transport history.

The pictures were taken with a Nikon d3300 on the 23rd January 2016, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

Please take a moment to share this post, follow me on social media, and explore my work on Clickasnap and Photo4Me using the links below. Your support means a lot!

All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

A Forgotten Waterway: Walking the Halifax Branch Canal

The Calder and Hebble Navigation is one of Yorkshire's great industrial arteries, but one short spur holds a particularly fascinating, and largely buried, history: the Halifax Branch Canal. Recently, I took a walk along the small, navigable section that remains today, from Salterhebble Top Lock to the Salterhebble Basin, and was inspired to look deeper into this forgotten waterway.

The Last Surviving Stretch

The walk starts where the main navigation meets the spur. The modern-day journey is short, a serene quarter-mile of placid water contrasting sharply with the busy road nearby. This short section is a peaceful haven, offering moorings and a tranquil reflection of the industrial past.

The basin at Salterhebble, now a calm, boat-filled pool, was once the hive of activity for the main canal's final push towards Halifax before the branch opened. Today, it’s a spot to pause and appreciate the peaceful coexistence of nature and history.

The Buried Climb to Bailey Hall

What many people don't realise is that this short length is just the beginning of what was once a mighty, ambitious climb right into the heart of Halifax. When the branch opened in 1828, it extended for about a mile and a quarter, rising an astonishing 110 feet via 14 locks to terminate at Bailey Hall Basin, near the modern-day railway station and the former Mackintosh (now Nestlé) factory site. This monumental civil engineering feat was necessary to bring heavy goods like coal and stone directly into the thriving industrial town. The canal was crucial, as one horse could haul up to 60 tons by boat, a huge advantage over carting goods over the steep, difficult roads of the area.

An Expensive, Challenging Engineering Feat

The Halifax Branch was notoriously expensive to run. The terrain was challenging, and local mill owners were fiercely protective of the water supply in the Hebble Brook. This meant the canal company couldn't rely on the usual gravity-fed reservoirs.

The solution was a feat of ingenuity: a brick-lined culvert was built to carry water from the bottom of the arm all the way to a reservoir near the top at Phoebe Lane, where a massive steam-powered pumping engine then lifted the water to the highest level. The cost of running this engine and maintaining the long, leaky canal meant tolls were double those on the main Calder and Hebble.

The Ghosts of the Locks

The branch’s life was relatively short; it officially closed in 1942 and much of it was quickly drained and infilled. The route is now largely preserved as the Hebble Trail, a fantastic walking route that traces the canal's former path.

Walking this trail is like following a ghost. You walk over what were once the lock chambers—those well-built stone walls and depressions you see are the tops of the buried locks! It's an incredible sensation to know you're traversing a route where barges once struggled up and down a staircase of water.

Interestingly, the old structures, including bridges and the lock chambers themselves, were so robustly built that demolition would have been too costly. They were simply buried—a fascinating thought for a history enthusiast! Even the aqueduct that carried the canal over the Hebble Brook at Farrah Mill Lane still stands, though it faces problems today.

A Legacy of Industry and Leisure

Though its commercial life ended over 80 years ago, the spirit of the Halifax Branch lives on. The remaining section at Salterhebble serves as a reminder of the colossal ambition that shaped the West Riding's industrial landscape. The Hebble Trail ensures the route isn't completely forgotten, allowing walkers and cyclists to literally walk in the footsteps of the horse-drawn barges of old.

So next time you're in the area, don't just see the tranquil waters at Salterhebble. Take a moment to think about the 14 locks and the 110 feet of elevation that lie buried beneath your feet, connecting the busy present with a forgotten past.

I took these pictures with a Polaroid is2132 camera on the 13th June 2015, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

Please take a moment to share this post, follow me on social media, and explore my work on Clickasnap and Photo4Me using the links below. Your support means a lot!

All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

From Mill Smoke to Slalom Gates: A Springtime Stroll Through Historic Sowerby Bridge

 Sowerby Bridge, nestled in the heart of West Yorkshire's Calder Valley, is a place where industrial grit and rolling green hills meet.  This photo set, perfectly captures this unique blend, telling a story of the town’s past as a vital hub of the Industrial Revolution and its present life as a vibrant, water-focused community.

Relics of the Industrial Giants

The town’s landscape is dominated by the enduring structures built on the wealth of textiles and engineering. These buildings, often made of local sandstone, speak volumes about the power and scale of the mills that once drove the valley.

Nothing defines this legacy more than the iconic mill chimney, as captured dramatically against the bright blue sky in your images. The tall, slender structure of the Carlton Mill Chimney stands as a magnificent, slightly defiant sentinel. One photo perfectly frames it through the narrow arch of Old Cawsey, a classic Sowerby Bridge passage. This viewpoint is gold—it juxtaposes the sheer vertical scale of the chimney with the intimate, historic stonework of the side streets, reminding us that industry was built right into the fabric of daily life.

The Waterways: Heart of the Town

Sowerby Bridge’s existence is defined by water. It sits at the junction of the River Calder and the Rochdale Canal, making it a crucial transit point for transporting coal and wool. Today, these waterways are where the town’s historical and contemporary identities collide.

This shot of Lock 2 on the Rochdale Canal beautifully captures the engineering feat of the 18th century. The sturdy stone walls, the white lock gates, and the church tower looming in the background create a picturesque scene that draws in canal enthusiasts and history buffs alike. This lock is a gateway, physically and metaphorically, connecting Sowerby Bridge to Manchester and the broader network of Britain's canals.

The River Calder: From Industry to Adventure

In the heart of the town, the River Calder transforms from an industrial route to a recreational hub. Your photos brilliantly capture the dramatic, rocky sections of the river, home to a surprising watersport facility.

The images showing the Canoe Slalom course—marked by the vertical white poles and the churning water—reveal a hidden, adventurous side of the town. These shots, framed by the old mill buildings and dense greenery, perfectly illustrate the repurposing of the landscape. The river, once used to power the mills like Valley Mill, is now a playground for canoeists. The rugged, rocky terrain makes for a challenging and scenic course, perfect for capturing the spirit of outdoor adventure in a historic setting.

Hidden Gems and Local Life

Beyond the major structures, Sowerby Bridge hides charming, centuries-old corners.

A visit to Sowerby Bridge isn't complete without a nod to the local landmarks. The image of the Puzzle Hall Inn captures a piece of genuine local history—a traditional pub nestled amongst the new. Similarly, the shot of the Town Hall Clock tower, peeking above the spring foliage, reminds us of the civic pride and architectural detail of the town centre. These human-scale photos ground the massive industrial features in everyday life.

The pictures were taken with a Nikon d3300 on the 3rd May 2025, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

Please take a moment to share this post, follow me on social media, and explore my work on Clickasnap and Photo4Me using the links below. Your support means a lot!

All the images remain the copyright of Colin Green.

The Historic Heart of Salterhebble Locks

There's a rugged charm to the Calder and Hebble Navigation, a waterway carved into the West Yorkshire landscape to fuel the Industrial Revolution. Nowhere is this blend of engineering, history, and community spirit more evident than at the Salterhebble Locks, a crucial flight of steps that descends from the high ground near Halifax to the main line of the navigation.

These locks—the top and middle ones, captured beautifully in these photographs—tell a story of industrial might, clever design, and the quiet life of the waterways.

The Calder and Hebble: A Georgian Highway

The Calder and Hebble Navigation, an early feat of civil engineering, was constructed in phases starting in 1759, with the main line to Sowerby Bridge completed by 1770. Its purpose was to extend the navigation westwards from Wakefield, creating a vital liquid highway for the transport of coal, wool, and other goods for the rapidly growing industries of West Yorkshire.

The Trio of Locks and the Missing Guillotine

The Salterhebble section features a series of three locks. You can see the Top Lock and Middle Lock here, with their traditional mitre gates and sturdy stone construction. However, what makes this flight truly unique is the final one: the Guillotine Lock. On the day I took these pictures, I did not picture the guillotine lock, I can not recall why, so the picture below is from an earlier set I took in February 2014.

 The Guillotine Lock, found immediately behind the Stainland Road bridge, is a sight to behold. Rather than having two hinged mitre gates, it uses a single, massive, vertical gate that is lifted and lowered like a medieval portcullis. This type of gate is often used to combat high river levels or where space is restricted. It’s a fascinating, modern piece of canal machinery that dramatically contrasts with the Georgian stonework of the locks above it, and is a great reason for boaters and towpath walkers to visit this spot.

Life by the Water: The Lock Keeper's Cottage

These pictures capture more than just the mechanics of the canal; they show the tranquil waters of the mooring pound between the locks, overshadowed by the charming lock keeper's cottage.

This Grade II Listed, stone-built house sits right next to the canal, historically serving as the home and office for the person whose job it was to manage the flow of traffic and water. Today, it is a private residence, accessed by a pedestrian footbridge over the Top Lock. Its location is truly unique—an island of historic peace bordered by the modern hustle of a busy road. The cottage is an integral part of the Salterhebble Basin and its future has been a focus for canal heritage groups.

The next time you walk the towpath or cruise the Calder and Hebble, stop at Salterhebble. Pause to admire the architecture, listen for the rush of the water filling the chambers, and imagine the thousands of barges that passed this way carrying the goods that built the North. It's a place where you can truly feel the history of the industrial age woven into the landscape.

I took the pictures below on the 24th November 2023 with a Nikon d3300, clicking any of them should open a link in another window.

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Brighouse Basin: A Canal-Side Escape in West Yorkshire

The Calder and Hebble Navigation is a vital part of West Yorkshire's rich industrial history, but today, it's also a tranquil and picturesque escape. Nowhere is this more apparent than at Brighouse Basin, a peaceful hub of activity where history and modern-day leisure blend seamlessly.

Approaching the basin, the view opens up to a wide expanse of water, dotted with colourful narrowboats moored along the banks. The basin serves as a perfect base for canal boats, providing a sense of community and a home for those who live on the water. It’s a great place to stop and watch the world go by, as a small pleasure boat might putter its way into the open water, or a family of ducks drifts by in search of a snack.

Walking along the towpath towards the main stretch of the canal, you get a real sense of the waterway's character. The path is well-maintained and provides excellent views of the boats and the surrounding architecture. Old stone bridges span the water, their arches framing the canal as it disappears into the distance. The contrast between the industrial heritage buildings, like the old mill and the striking white silo, and the lush greenery of the trees and bushes is a unique sight.

The canal meanders right through the heart of Brighouse, offering a different perspective of the town. You can see people strolling along the opposite bank, enjoying the sunshine and the peaceful atmosphere. The canal here feels like a hidden gem, a green corridor that provides a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of the town centre.

Further down the navigation, the canal continues its journey, passing under more bridges and past more moored boats. The architecture varies from traditional stone buildings to modern flats with balconies overlooking the water. It’s a place that caters to everyone—from the serious boater to the casual walker, or anyone simply looking for a quiet spot to sit and enjoy the view. The Calder and Hebble Navigation at Brighouse is more than just a waterway; it's a vibrant, living piece of history that invites you to slow down and appreciate the beauty of a canal-side life.

I took these pictures in August 2018 with a Nikon d3300, clicking on any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

Please take a moment to share this post, follow me on social media, and explore my work on Clickasnap and Photo4Me using the links below. Your support means a lot!

All the images remain the copyright of Colin Green.